The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-06-30
A FORTUNATE CHANCE

held them 10 utter detestaiion, individual
iy and collectively. According TO tradi'
ton, this vas owing TO some bitter wrong
Inflicted upon her heart when u was youus
and tender. But however this may be
the an,ipathy sbove mentioned was toe
real 10 be mistaken.
For over thirty years no mans foot bad
de.ecrsted her dwelling. Eron the old
mao ths, saved her wood and did odd
jobs about the house received bis pay
standing under the Kitchen window, Miss
Prudence dropping the amount into his
hand with syerted eyes aud an suiible
snitiis. expressive OF her disgust at this
unavoidable contact with the deiested sex,
Mss pringle's family consisted OF her
self. al elderly female domestic. and her
niece Rnth. She had taken Ruth when a
lchild. with the avowed determination Of
making her ~ inveterate . man bsser as
herself And In case she succeeded Ia her
lsudable design, il was her intention TO
leave her the bulk Of her property mot
otherwise" as she had often assured her
cousin Jonas the next heir st-law.
Jonas Quimby was q stiff sour, disa-
greeable old bachelor, for whom Ruth had
q particular dislike, on the account Of the
pleasant way he had OF snubblng and lee
turing her whenever they met He had
remained single 10 the hope Of eventually
inheriting bis cousins property, knowing
her aversion TO matrimony, and therefore
regarded Ru.h's adoption by her aunt in
the light OF personal grievance. But he
took great comfort from Miss Pringle's
repeated assurance; for he knew that
young girls take as naturally to love as
flowers take to dew and sunshine.
Every evening Ruth was catechised
after the following fashion:
Each man on the face OF the earth is
false hearted and treacherousl"
"Yes. aunt" was Ruth's dutiful res
ponse.
Especially Young menP'
"Yes, aunt
"And you must never have anything to
do with them in any way or shapel"
II never will. aunt.
Whereupon Ruth was dismissed to her
chamber with a grim smile Of approval,
But Miss Pringle did not trust entirely to
precept; Ruth was kept strictly from ali
contact with the outer world, never being
allowed to go on the street without either
herself or her attendant damsel to act as
guard and defence. And with such a for
midable guard, bold indeed, was the youth
who ventured upon q second admiring
glance at Ruth's pretty face; for pretty it
WAS in spite Of the ugly bonne,s she was
forced to wear.
But the little blind god laughs at such
precautions. Ii happened that Miss Prin-
gle WAS very fond OF Strawberries, so, as
soon as they we're ripe, she sent Ruth
down to the meadow behind the house to ,
gather some for tea, strictly charging her !
TO "look and speak to no man.
Now ii curiously enough happened that
Mr.. Edgar Haven. who caught glimpse ,
Of Ruth tripping down the lane, was sud- ,
denly reminded OF similar wish express :
ed by his mother, and animated by filial /,
desire to crafty it. seized basket and
proceed 10 the same direction. +
Now Edgar knew his young neighbor
by name and sight, and politely accosting =
her, offered to show where the berries !,
were much more plentiful than where she !,
was picking. Startled by his unexpected :
appearance, Ruth's first impulse was to
irop her basket aud run; but his look =
md tone we're so gentle, his smiles SO win >
1Ing, and his eyes SO beautiful; and then !,
/ would have been rude
Miss Pringle praised the quality and h
ineness Of the berries; but Ruth never !,
mentioned who helped her gather them. J
Il she had, we doubt whether the virtuous !.
'pinster would have suffered one of them :,
% enter her mouth.
Every day Ruth went down to the
meadow TO gather straw berries and curl !,
,usly enough. Edgar Haven was either \
here or followed soon after. He always
eturned empty handed, but with his :,
leart full Of soft blue eyes into which be !,
lad gszed, and the sweet voice to which +
,e had listened.
And as for Ruth, she began to repeat her !,
ustomery cstechism in q much less as h
ured tone and manner, and considerable
inward demurring. :,
"Are oil young men so very bad, aunt2' !,
he once ven,ured to ask.
ITO be sure they are, child snapped i.
mt Miss Pnngle. IT is impossible for :.
ne to give you any idea OF their deceit
nd wickedness. =,
Ruth sighed and betook herself to her
hamber, ber heart full Of mental ercep- /,
lon to her aunt's sweeping assertion. -
As Cousin Jonas was thought TO be, 10 !,
Sc her own words, ''only half a man AZ
he worst, and having disavowed. both
ractically and orally. any inclination to-
ards the chief folly and weakness of his i
Il, Miss Pnngle occasionally condescend -
i 10 hold conversation with him through
,e window. or piekets OF the fence that
1rrouned her garden. One day Jonas q
w Ruth aud her aunt at work in the
arden, and stopped 10 say word TO the
Itter.
Ruth WAS st tue other end OF the garden 80
ting mp rose bush that was dropping 10 20
ie earth with The weight OF It's fragrant
urden ho